Pte 27593 Ernest Knight

The census of 1901 records that the family were living in Blackpool at 7 Freckleton Street, Blackpool, where George is working as a bricklayer. George had been born in Derbyshire and Emily in Liverpool. The couple have two children Robert E. (Ernest) aged 3 who was born in Liverpool and Barbara aged 2 who had been born in Blackpool.

At the time of the 1911 census George was 35 and working as a bricklayer for Bootle Corporation, Emily Ann was 33. The couple have been married for fourteen years and have had six children who are all living with them: Ernest aged 13, Barbara 12, Edmund 8, George 7, Emily 3 and Lucy aged 5 months. They are living at 17 Glynne Street, Orrell, Bootle.

Ernest was educated at Linacre Road School and left school later that year.

He was a skilful footballer winning several medals. Prior to the outbreak of war he was employed by Bootle Case Co.1911.

Ernest enlisted in Liverpool in about May 1915 joining the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 27593. 

On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 29th December 1915.

He was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 19, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

17^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

The Bn was in support to 19 & 20 Bn K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20^th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17^th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17^th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions)  in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.  

Ernest's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Ernest's death was featured in a local newspaper report:

AN ORRELL "PAL" KILLED. 

Pte. Ernest Knight, of the Liverpool "Pals," who was killed in action on July 30th, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Knight, of 19, Glynne Street, Orrell, and was 19 years of age. Before joining the Pals he was employed by the Bootle Case Co., and was held in high regard by his employers and colleagues. An "old boy" of Linacre School, he was a keen and skilful footballer, and gained a number of medals by his prowess in the game, including the Bootle May Day competitions in 1910 and 1911: Linacre Council School 1910 and 1911, and the B.S.C.L. 1914.
A comrade has written announcing the sad news, and forwarding several photographs belonging to Pte. Knight which were picked up by some soldiers belonging to an Irish Regiment. The bereaved parents have also received a letter from the Rt. Hon. D Lloyd George expressing the sympathy of the King and Queen. A wide circle of friends in Bootle and Orrell will condole with Mr. and Mrs. Knight in the loss of a gallant and promising young son. 

His death was also announced in the Liverpool Echo on 21st August 1916:

Knight – July 30th Killed in action aged 19 years Private Ernest Knight (Ernie) “Pals” beloved eldest son of George and Emily Knight 19 Glynne Street, Orrell, Bootle – Deeply mourned by his Parents, Sisters and Brothers    

He earned his three medals.

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £4-10s went to his father. The pension card in the name of his mother, at 19 Glynne Street and later 62 Boswell Street, Bootle,  appears to show that she was awarded a gratuity in lieu of a pension. 

His mother posted a poignant tribute to Ernest on the first anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost At The Battle Of Guillemont”:

“In loving memory of our dear son, Private Ernest Knight (Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916. - Never forgotten by those who loved you, my son. - Mother.”

Liverpool Echo - Monday 15 July 1918 

KNIGHT - In loving 21st birthday remembrance of Private ERNEST KNIGHT (Pals), killed in action, July 30, 1916.  

For many years the family chain  

Was closely linked together;  

But oh, that chain is broken now - 

One link is gone for ever.  

- Father, Mother, Sisters, Brothers, 19 Glynne Street, Orrell. 

Ernest is also remembered on the following Memorials:

Linacre Road School

Bootle Civic Memorial

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 67

His father died in 1934 aged 59. In 1939 his mother, 61, lived alone at 52 Melville Road, Litherland.  She died in 1948 aged 70.

We currently have no further information on Ernest Knight, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.